Senator WATERS (Queensland—Co-Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens) (14:21): My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis: I refer to the teaching letter or encyclical of Pope Francis which calls for an urgent moral response to the scientific reality of global warming, rampant environmental destruction and extreme poverty. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on both sides but particularly my right! Senator Waters, I am going to ask you to start the question again. I could not hear it and nor could Senator Brandis. Senator WATERS: Thanks, President; I will commence again. I refer to the teaching letter or encyclical from Pope Francis, which calls for an urgent moral response to the scientific reality of global warming, rampant environmental destruction and extreme poverty and condemns indifference, denialism and obstructionism. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, on both sides. Senator WATERS: Forty-two per cent of the Abbott cabinet is Catholic, including the Prime Minister himself, who, of course, once trained to be a Catholic priest. This government has rolled back— Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: On my right. Senator WATERS: our effective price on carbon pollution— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Just a moment, Senator Waters. Order! Senator WATERS: I think we have hit a sore point, President. The PRESIDENT: Just a moment, Senator Waters. Senator WATERS: Can I be allowed to continue at some point? Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: On both sides! Senator Whish-Wilson: I raise a point of order, Mr President. I would like Senator Canavan to withdraw his comment; he reflected on Senator Waters. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! I did not hear what the comment was, but if Senator Canavan believes he needs to withdraw, I will accept that. Senator Canavan: I did reflect, and I am happy to withdraw, Mr President. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Canavan. Senator Waters, would you like to continue with your question? Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my right! Senator WATERS: I would very much like to, thank you, President. A government senator: You are married, aren't you? Senator WATERS: No, I am not, and that is an irrelevant question; my marital status has nothing to do with this chamber. This government has rolled back our effective price on carbon pollution, and, today, in the Senate, is seeking to slash the clean energy target. The Prime Minister has failed to listen to the scientists. Will he now listen to the leader of his own church, and abandon his attacks on the clean energy target? The PRESIDENT: Before I call Senator Brandis, Senator Waters, it is not in order for you to refer to a senator's religion, so I am going to rule that portion of the question out of order, which did reflect on other parts of the question, and I will invite the minister to answer what parts of the question he wishes to.